What hardware to use?

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Steinbock
 
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What hardware to use?

Post by Steinbock »

Hello,

thanks for taking the time to read this. I would like to hook up an iOS app to a (tiny) device via Bluetooth. I'm fine on the programming side, it's more a question of what hardware to use for my project. I've had a look on the site and found some modules that might work, but I don't know enough about them to be sure. If you have any input, it would be greatly appreciated.

What I need from the device:
- Bluetooth LE connectivity (to speak with the app)
- Be able to vibrate
- Be able to blink LEDs
- Have an independent power source (preferably that can be charged)
- Be able to program via a Mac

So I was thinking of the following components:
- Haptic Motor Controller (PID 2305) for vibrations
- Vibrating Motor Disc (PID 1201) for vibrations
- Lithium Ion Battery (PID 328) for power
- Bluetooth LE Breakout (PID 1697) for connectivity
- LEDs I have

So my questions:
1. Is it possible to program the device over the air via Bluetooth? Or do I need to connect it via USB to my computer to program?
2. Am I missing a micro-controller to link all the modules together? If so, do you know a good one?
3. Regarding the lithium Ion Battery, it's 3.7v / 2500 mAh - is this enough power? Can I charge the battery after using?

Thanks very much!

Best

Duncan

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adafruit_support_mike
 
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Re: What hardware to use?

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

Steinbock wrote:1. Is it possible to program the device over the air via Bluetooth?
Yes, but it will take forever with a BLE breakout.

BLE's data rate is maybe 25 bytes per second on a good day. It's a low power, lightweight protocol, and it sacrifices speed to get that. That's okay for sensors like a pulse monitor, but not good for serious data transfer.

Our EZ-Link is a Bluetooth Classic device, which uses the higher-power, higher speed protocol: https://www.adafruit.com/products/1588 That one is specifically made to be a wireless replacement for a USB cable.
Steinbock wrote:2. Am I missing a micro-controller to link all the modules together? If so, do you know a good one?
You'll probably need a mirocontroller, yes. The EZ-Link carries data from one place to another, but it needs something at the other end to do something with that data.

Depending on the size of the device you want to make, you could use an Arduino Uno (https://www.adafruit.com/products/50) or one of our Pro Trinkets (https://www.adafruit.com/products/2010). They both use the same microcontroller, and code for the Uno will port more or less directly to the Pro Trinket. The main difference between them is size.
Steinbock wrote:3. Regarding the lithium Ion Battery, it's 3.7v / 2500 mAh - is this enough power?
It depends on how much current you want to use, and how long you want to use it.

For the parts you've mentioned, I'd guess a 2500mAh LiPo would give you about 12 hours of use.
Steinbock wrote:Can I charge the battery after using?
Yes. LiPos can be recharged about 500 times. We have a range of chargers in the shop that work with our LiPos: https://www.adafruit.com/categories/138

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Steinbock
 
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Re: What hardware to use?

Post by Steinbock »

Thanks very much Mike!

It's much appreciated.

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